Beyond the Boundary The Movie: I'll Be Here - The Future Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Beyond the Boundary The Movie: I'll Be Here - The Future Blu-ray Movie Review

An entertaining and worthy follow up to the original anime series.

Beyond the Boundary: Movie 2 - I'll Be Here: Future is a sequel to the Beyond the Boundary anime series and the feature-film re-telling, Beyond the Boundary: Movie 1 - I'll Be Here: Past. The film features a brand new sequel story that brings the characters back for another sci-fi action mind-trip. Adapted from the work created by Nagomu Torii, Beyond the Boundary: Movie 2 - I'll Be Here: Future has animation produced by Kyoto Animation (Clannad, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, K-ON!) and takes place one year following the conclusion of the original anime television series.

Though the epic battle of the original anime series may have reached its own conclusion, Beyond the Boundary: Movie 2 - I'll Be Here: Future is a continuation with new twists in store for audiences. A epic journey awaits Akihito (Kenn) and Mirai (Risa Taneda) as their journeys aren't over just yet. As Mirai has lost all of her past memories and Akihito is now avoiding her because of the lost memories, Akihito attempts to juggle his high school life while rekindling his friendship with her.

As the duo begin to spend time together again, friendship blossoms, and new surprises are in store for the two as new threats come to light and a future battle awaits them. Can Mirai and Akihito face the demons fighting against them? Action-packed fun awaits as events build to a new epic conclusion!

The animation in the second feature-film is superb and even better than the original anime series. The production values seem even larger in scope and design. The efforts are commendable on every level. The character designs by Miku Kadowaki (Beyond the Boundary, Amagi Brilliant Park, Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid) are just as effective as on the series and do not disappoint.

A bold new vision.

Background art work and line art are extremely fluid and impressive throughout the production. Both the scope and scale of the anime are outstanding. Compared to the anime television series, the film is even more ambitious. There are so many intricate layers to the art work on the anime that it is easy to delve in to the animated world and have a good time with the production. Outstanding.

The action scenes in Beyond the Boundary: Movie 2 - I'll Be Here: Future will have audiences on the edge-of-their-seat. Though the television series consistently entertained with solid action scenes, the follow-up sequel expands the scope significantly. These scenes are breathtaking and the animators consistently pull out all the stops to make the film something special for series fans.

The screenplay by Jukki Hanada (Chobits, K-ON!) is creative with establishing the new storyline and revamping the anime. The characters go on a fantastic new journey which will appeal to series fans. The storyline builds to an epic conclusion and Hanada handles the action- packed fun well.

Directed by Taichi Ishidate (Beyond the Boundary, K-ON!), Beyond the Boundary: Movie 2 - I'll Be Here: Future is well worth seeing. The film has fun with the anime series universe and characters. Ishidate made the sequel even more compelling than the first feature- film (which was a re-cut). A sequel that fans won't want to miss.

Beyond the Boundary The Movie: I'll Be Here - The Future Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Sentai Filmworks, Beyond the Boundary: Movie 2 - I'll Be Here: Future is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The animation looks splendid throughout the presentation. Colors are vibrant throughout. The encode impresses and never struggles to present the video on a high-level: no compression problems to deter from enjoying the experience. A solid effort from Sentai.

Beyond the Boundary The Movie: I'll Be Here - The Future Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes a selection of lossless audio options: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound and Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound (with English subtitles provided). The lossless audio track is effective at preserving the audio. Dialogue is consistently clear and easy to understand throughout the presentation. The English dub sounds terrific – and fans will be quite pleased.

Beyond the Boundary The Movie: I'll Be Here - The Future Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release includes the following supplemental features:

Japanese Trailer (HD, 1:35)

Japanese Promos (HD, 2:38)

"Future Star" Dance Music Video (HD, 4:49)

Dance Music Video: Clean Closing Animation (HD, 00:38)

The release also includes a selection of trailers promoting other releases available from distributor Sentai Filmworks: Clannad (HD, 1:32), Vampire Hunter D (HD, 1:30), No Game, No Life (HD, 1:32), ef – a tale of memories and melodies (HD, 1:32).

Beyond the Boundary The Movie: I'll Be Here - The Future Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Beyond the Boundary: Movie 2 - I'll Be Here: Future is a entertaining follow-up to the first film in the saga. Unlike Beyond the Boundary: Movie 1 - I'll Be Here: Past, Beyond the Boundary: Movie 2 - I'll Be Here: Future is a new story and not a simple re-telling of the anime series. It is a fun and exciting sequel which fans of the anime series won't want to miss. The Blu-ray release features a strong video and audio presentation. Highly recommended.